26 Exciting Things to Do in North Dakota in 2026 (You’ll Want to Save This List)

If you’ve been reading for any amount of time, you probably know that I love reminding you that somehow – in some unfair, unnecessary way – North Dakota is the least-visited state in the US. I don’t know how this happened; it’s a vibrant, amazing place with so many things to do, see, and experience that it’s tough to know where to begin.  

Enter this: my list of 26 amazing things to do in North Dakota in 2026. Here, you’ll find an amalgamation of hiking trails, natural wonders, small towns, big cities, and killer eateries that you’ll want to add to your to-do list immediately. So, let’s get into it: all the North Dakota bucket list items you could ever hope for in one place. How many of these have you already experienced this year? Let’s find out. Best of all, there's still time to cross more off our bucket lists this year. 

1. Conquer the Epic Painted Canyon Trail

The Painted Canyon Trail is a fantastic hike within North Dakota’s intensely beautiful Theodore Roosevelt National Park. It’s just over four miles long, and it’s said to be moderately challenging. Spot wild bison year-round and hike to some of the most amazing views of the Peace Garden State. Once you’ve done it, you’ll understand why I’m hopelessly addicted to hiking this one: it’s incredibly scenic, not overly complex, and the views are to die for.  

2. Sip the Evening Away at The Pier, A Stunning Waterfront Restaurant

Hidden away in Bismarck, right on the Southport Bay Marina, is The Pier, which is easily one of my favorite restaurants. An excellent dinner and a view? Count me in! Enjoy a delectable dining experience with an all-American menu featuring baskets and wraps, sandwiches, pizza, burgers, and more. Given the fantastic food and the epic views, I see this one becoming your new favorite place to dine in North Dakota. 

3. Spend a Weekend Lounging at the Grey Houz 

While in Bismarck, I will need somewhere to stay, so I’ve found the perfect place: this gorgeous vacation home in North Dakota. The ability to sleep 10 guests across four bedrooms, along with the place's incredibly modern design, ensures that everyone involved will adore it. The views from the amazing picture windows are to die for. Best of all, it’s on five quiet acres – perfect to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. 

4. Visit Medora, the Single Best Winter Town in North Dakota 

When you think about winter towns, what towns come to mind? If you were born and raised in North Dakota, I bet your first answer is probably “Medora!” and in that case, you’re right – Medora is the best winter town in North Dakota. It’s one of those places that goes all-out for the winter season, and is especially magical during the holidays. I can’t wait to celebrate the holidays and the New Year in Medora this year.  

5. Explore Fargo 

Oh, Fargo: when people think of this little town, all too many immediately associate it with a popular cult hit film of the same name that's set in this very town. As of 2023, the town’s population is around 133,000 people, but there’s more to this place than just a movie to reference. Check out the Plains Art Museum, the Fargo Air Museum, and the Red River Zoo – and that's just a start! A visit to this vibrant college town is a reward in and of itself.  

6. Get My Rustic Charm on at El Rancho Hotel 

North Dakota's El Rancho Hotel is unique and gorgeous, with a modern twist on an old-school style that can’t be replicated. With a bar/lounge and a snack bar/deli, everything you’ll ever need can be found right here for the perfect stay-in-cation. I adore the beautiful, modernly decorated rooms, and the complimentary toiletries make everything even better. Spend a night here, spend a week here – no matter what, you’ll be incredibly cozy. I never wanted to leave.  

7. Hit the Road for an Unforgettable North Dakota Day Adventure

Oh, North Dakota: the land of 10,000 day trip ideas. Okay, I made that up, but it’s not wrong; you can turn anything into a day trip around these parts. Embark on a ghost towns of North Dakota day trip or maybe do an epic state parks of North Dakota day trip. I once took a day trip to historic cemeteries in North Dakota, which was awesome. The possibilities for adventure in this incredible little state are only as limited as your imagination.  

8. Pick My Jaw Up Off the Ground at Theodore Roosevelt National Park 

President Teddy Roosevelt once visited North Dakota and declared it the most beautiful place he’d ever been. He fell so deeply in love with it, and I love that the state reflects this love right back by naming its single most popular national park after him. The views from various overlooks are magnificent, and the miles and miles of hiking trails weaving all over the park are unique and wonder-filled. This is one North Dakota state park where you’ll never run out of things to do.  

9. Welcome Spring with Flower Peeping and Adventures

Spring in North Dakota is a magical time when wildflowers burst back to life, and all the leaves on the trees and other flora explode into bright green shoots. You can celebrate spring in any number of ways, from some amazing scenic drives to flower blooms, festivals, botanical gardens, hiking, and so much more. Enjoy the near-perfect weather that signifies the end of a no-doubt frigid winter – it'll only get warmer from here! If you missed doing any of the things I mentioned this spring, there's always next year.

10. Attend a Symphony by Candlelight 

Did you know you can indulge in a relaxing, wonderful evening out listening to your favorite music hits performed by a small orchestra group by candlelight, solo, or with your favorite person? It’s true – the Candlelight events are fantastic, offering up a truly unique, romantic experience. From Taylor Swift to classical faves, you can’t go wrong.  

11. Explore North Dakota’s Incredible Countryside on the Birnt Hills Trail 

Nestled up alongside the Keene, North Dakota, river is an excellent little hiking trail known as the Birnt Hills Trail. This trail is just over three miles long, and it’s an experience – some of the most beautiful vantage points along the way truly illustrate the wonder of North Dakota. It’s considered moderately complex, though every moment of effort is absolutely worth it. Download AllTrails Plus and get a map – you might need it, and I strongly recommend it.  

12. Go on a North Dakota Road Trip to Explore Hidden Gems

Few things in this life are as freeing to my spirit as life on the road, and North Dakota is the perfect place for a road tripper to road trip to their soul’s content. I have endless ideas, all of which I hope to accomplish in 2026; some of my planned road trips in North Dakota include a state and national parks road trip, an abandoned places road trip, a stunning lakes of North Dakota road trip, and so on. Let the games begin!  

13. Visit Fargo in Style at the Jasper Hotel 

Planning to take my earlier advice and explore Fargo? Awesome – you might need a place to stay, and if you ask me, the Jasper Hotel is an instant classic. When I say this hotel is beautiful, I mean it – it's decorated inside and out with a modern, artsy vibe that only experienced interior designers can achieve. Views from the rooms are awe-inspiring, and I think you’ll find your new go-to stay when in Fargo, just like I did.  

14. Explore the Petrified Forest at Theodore Roosevelt National Park 

Fun fact: only a couple of genuinely petrified forests exist in the United States, and one is right here in North Dakota. Hidden inside Theodore Roosevelt National Park is one of the most incredible petrified forests on the planet; it’s so surreal that it feels like an alien landscape, unlike anything you might expect on Earth. Explore North Dakota’s truly wild landscape on foot by hiking one of the dozens of excellent trails. TRNP is an experience and a half, and I can’t wait to do it again.  

15. Enjoy Summer in the Great Outdoors (and beyond) 

Summer in North Dakota is a beautiful time of year, with mild temperatures and plenty of things to do and see. It’s the perfect season for enjoying the outdoors, whether on hiking trails, at lakes or watering holes, enjoying campgrounds, exploring our state parks, or doing scenic drives... the possibilities are only as limited as your hopes and dreams. I think summertime in North Dakota is my favorite time of year. It’s just so full of magic.  

16. Experience the Old Charm of Peacock Alley 

Since 1933, Peacock Alley has been treating Bismarck to some of the best breakfast, lunch, dinner, and drinks around. This fantastic historic restaurant in North Dakota opened just about the moment prohibition ended, and it’s been going strong ever since. Enjoy delicious burgers, perfectly prepared sandwiches, appetizers, and more – even the breakfasts are to die for. Bring your appetite – you'll need it!  

17. Ponder the Past at the Huff Site 

The Huff Mandan Archaeological Site is an ancient Mandan village that dates to prehistory; it was discovered in the early 1900s and is thought to have been occupied around 1450 AD. Most of the site is undisturbed, having been conserved and protected by the US Army Corps of Engineers in the 1960s. Today, you can meander the town's perimeter, learning all about these people and their lives. It’s the closest we can get to traveling in time, and I can’t wait to experience it. It's one of the most fascinating places to explore in North Dakota.

18. Consider Moving to Dickinson 

There are hundreds of cute small towns in North Dakota, but I think Dickinson might be the most underrated. Often called the “Gateway to Theodore Roosevelt Park,” this little slice of paradise is chock-full of history, natural wonders, and more. History lovers will adore this one; I think you’ll love it so very much that you might want to live here. I sure do.  

19. Rest and Relax at the Rust House Inn 

This gorgeous vacation home in North Dakota is just waiting for the perfect family and/or friends group to come along. It can sleep up to eight guests in four bedrooms, offering all the cozy amenities of home with the incredible beauty of a professionally decorated environment. You’ll find this gorgeous Airbnb in Jamestown, and once you’re ready to meander out and explore the town, I promise you’ll never get bored.  

20. Attend the Annual Kite Festival 

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! Oh, wait... It’s a kite. How fun! The annual kite festival in North Dakota is a truly magical experience that the entire family will love. It’s a summertime must; even if kite-flying isn’t your thing, I promise you’ll love the whimsy of this legendary celebration of the season. It’s three days of wholesome fun attended by locals and Canadian friends. Come out and get high up in the sky, that is. 2025’s dates were May 30 to June 1, so if you missed it this year, add it to your 2026 North Dakota bucket list.

21. Wonder What Happened at the “Mystery Cave?” 

Well-hidden in the Killdeer Mountains is the Medicine Hole “Mystery Cave,” a 70-foot-deep crack in the Earth’s surface with several different caverns that provoke wonder from all who learn about it. The short version of the mystery is this: Once upon a time, a group of Sioux fled General Alfred Sully and his troops by disappearing somewhat miraculously into the mountains. But where? And how? To this day, all we have is speculation.  

22. Embark on a Fall Foliage Road Trip 

Autumn is my favorite time of year. But autumn in North Dakota is particularly joyful, with enchanting colors and several fabulous ways to enjoy them. My favorite way to get out and immerse myself in autumn is by driving; we have numerous ideas here at Only in Your State about all the best fall foliage road trips in North Dakota, and I strongly recommend you do every last one. You cannot, and will not, regret it.  

23. Embrace Autumn in all the Best Ways 

I’m beginning to suspect that every North Dakota season is the best in North Dakota. This is the perfect state for those whose favorite season is fall; you’ll never get bored with corn mazes, fall festivals, spooky delights, haunted houses, pumpkin patches, apple cider adventures at local breweries, and so much more to enjoy. The kids love it, and the grown-ups do, too – make memories that will last forever during fall in North Dakota.  

24. Marvel at the Beauty of Pembina Gorge 

Pembina Gorge is one of the most beautiful places in North Dakota, no matter what time of year you decide to visit. It’s absolutely enchanting in the fall, and in the winter, it’s a wonderland. Wildflowers abound in the spring and summer, and landscape photographers arrive in droves to record the wonder. I enjoy camping at the Gorge; it’s one of my favorite things to do in North Dakota, and I suspect it’ll become one of yours, too.  

25. Fall in Love with the Icelandic State Park Loop 

The Icelandic State Park Loop is an amazing little hike perfect for anyone looking for an adventure in 2026 (and beyond). It’s 5.2 miles long and is rated as moderately challenging; the trail is well-marked and scenic, offering lush greenery and/or a snowy paradise, depending on what time of year you choose to come out. I definitely recommend hiking in each season – it's the best way to get acquainted with our beautiful state. 

26. Step Back in Time at Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park

Are you a history buff? I had you in mind while curating this list of 26 in North Dakota in 2026. And here is the thing: Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park, near Mandan, is the perfect destination to learn about Native Americans and the lives of soldiers in the 19th century. When here, you can visit the On-A-Slant Mandan Indian Village, have a look at the ruins of the military buildings, or even hike scenic trails. Just imagine experiencing all this while glancing at the picturesque Missouri River!

So, there you have them: 26 incredible things we still have time to do in North Dakota in 2026. This state is pitifully underrated, and I think this list proves it: it’s a magical place with so much to look forward to – all you need to know is where to look. What are your North Dakota bucket list items for the rest of 2026? What would you have added to this list? Tell me all about it by filling out our nomination form.   

Ready to start planning your adventure? Don't forget to use Only In Your State’s itinerary planner to turn these North Dakota ideas into reality.